title: Musculoskeletal ultrasonography in Romania - results from a specific questionnaire.
abstract: Musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MSUS) is currently used in daily medical practice, as an extension of the clinical examination. The development of training programmes for MSUS has increased the interest of physicians from different specialties in performing this exploration. We realized a survey in order to describe the current practice of MSUS in Romania, as well as determining physicians' preferences for MSUS training implementation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2010, 196 questionnaires were completed and returned at two congresses in Romania.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the participants were rheumatologists and radiologists, followed by physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors, internal medicine doctors, general practitioners and other specialists. 41% of respondents practice MSUS themselves. Doctors use MSUS as a diagnostic tool (95%) and for monitoring diseases (75%). Lack of training and lack of MSUS competence were the main reasons for not performing MSUS. The respondents expressed their preference for future training to be via a programme of regular, intensive courses and active participation in clinics where MSUS is performed. Most of the participants consider mentoring the assessement method of choice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of participants in this survey use MSUS in the management of their patients. The results indicate participants' preferences on how training should be delivered in the future.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Department, 2-4 Clinicilor Str, 400006,Cluj-Napoca, Romania. mm_tamas@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Maria Magdalena
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Tamas
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fodor
authors.forename: Nicolae
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rednic
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rednic
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*